Improvement in scythe-fastenings



"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'ALPHEUS KIMBALL, or EITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS.

IM PROVEM E NT IN SCYTH E- FASTE-NINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 9,593, dated February 22, 1853.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALPHEUS KIMBALL, of Fitchburg, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have made certain Improvements in Scythe-Fastenings; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part ot' this specification.

My invention consists in an improvement upon a Scythe f'astening patented by S. Clapp, and it will be necessary thatI describe tirst the device employed by him, and then the improvement which I have added thereto to remedy the defects which have manifested themselves in his invention.

Figure l is a view ot' a scythe-snath as con structed by Clapp, and patented March I8, 1851. Fig. 2 is the heel of the blade, adapted to the snath .represented in Fig. I. Figs. 3 and 4 represent my improvement, which will be described hereinafter. Fig. 5 is a section through the snath and the heel ot' the blade, the latter being in place. Fig. G is the wrench for operating the continingscrew.

In Fig. l, A is a metallic ring,which surrounds the snath at its lower end, one end of which is closed, as at B. In this bottom plate, B, is anA elongated opening, d, wider than the thickness and longer than the breadth of the heel ot' the scythe, for the purpose of admitting the scythe-blade.

is a metallic plate attached to or made in one piece with the ring A, by which means the latter is secured to the snath by one or more screws, as seen at c.

f is a slot in the metallic plate C, at one end ot' which is a metallic piece, g, having two or more notches, h h', and secured to the snath by screws, or otherwise.

t' is a projection from the metallic cap or plate B, which carries the screw k, which may be raised or lowered by the wrench, Fig. 6, or in any other method. The Scythe-blade, Fig. 2, is furnished with a heel constructed rather differently from those ordinarily in use, the wedge-formed termination a of which fits into either one of the notches 7L h', the heel of the scythe passing into the hole d of the cap B. The screw 7c is then turned so as to force it 'against the Scythe-blade, which is thereby secured to the snath, the notches It h holding the point c and preventing any hori- .zontal motion of the blade. This fastening,

though it proved to be both efficient and easily managed, was found liable to two objections. In the rst place, it was necessary that the Scythe-blade should be made expressly for the fastening, as the ordinary blade with the claw upon the heel was not adapted to use with it; and in the second place, although the blade when first put in was perfectly firm and secure, it was liable to become loose after being in use a short time, and the point a was gradually withdrawn from the notches h and h', and the blade required to be readjusted.

To remedy these defects is the object o f my present invention, which may be described as follows:

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the scythesnath with my improved fastening attached. Fig. et is a view of the Scythe-blade. Fig. 5

is a longitudinal section through the Scythey Snath, blade, and fastening.

The general construction of my fastening and the manner ot' Securing the blade by means ot' the screw are similar to those de scribed above, and I will contine my description to the improvements which I have made.

m is a small metallic plate of the form seen in Figs. 3 and 5, secured to the snath by screws p, or otherwise, and having two or more openings, n it, into one of which is placed the claw/rot' the ordinary Scythe-blade, Figs. AL and 5. The screw k is then raised against the heel of the blade, as before described, and the scythe is securely fastened to the snath. No amount ot' use can now loosen the blade, as it is held firmly'in place by the notches a n', as described, while the of the ordinary construction, which is not the case with the fastening as constructed and patented by Clapp, as aforesaid.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-L- The method of securing the blade of the Scythe to the snath by passing its shank through the end of the stationary metal cap B and securing it by means of theupward pressure ot' the screw k, in combination with the claw r and bush-piece m, constructed and operating in the manner substantially as described.

signature the lst day of December, A. D. 1852.

ALPHEUS KIMBALL.

Witnesses:

M. H. Fisi, G. F. BAILEY.

fastening is capable of being used with blades In testimony whereof I have hereto set my v 

